Oscar Piastri was a shining light in his rookie Formula 1 season, entering the year in controversy and ending it as a revelation.
The Melbourne-born McLaren driver became the first rookie since Lewis Hamilton in 2007 to achieve multiple podiums, often showing his class at the front of the field.
There was plenty of intrigue around the Australian's debut season after originally being announced by Alpine as their driver for 2023, before he rejected that claim and signed with McLaren.
But the decision proved to be a masterstroke, with Piastri helping McLaren to fourth in the constructors' championship and challenging the top teams in the second half of the season.
In an interview with ABC Sport Piastri described McLaren's success in 2023 as "remarkable", considering its beginning when the team looked destined for a year at the back of the field.
"The first part of the season was hard, without question, but the turnaround in the car has been remarkable," he said.
"The desire is strong to get this team back towards the front regularly and I've seen that with my own eyes.
"To see the team members from up on the podium and what it means to them having their drivers up there, is a brilliant tonic."
That tonic was enjoyed multiple times during Piastri's rookie season.
The Aussie achieved two grand prix podiums — a second in Qatar and third in Japan — and also had terrific success in this season's sprint races.
A second place in the Belgium sprint was the appetiser to victory in Qatar, the highlight of Piastri's season.
"I had some great moments in the sprint races this season. Saturday in Spa was fantastic and the win in Qatar was special," he said.
It was performances like these that gave McLaren the confidence to extend the Australian's deal with the team until 2026.
"For the team to show that display of trust in me and push to secure my services until 2026, after just half a season in F1 was massive," Piastri said.
"That has just given me confidence and I can't wait to spend at least the next three seasons, helping to push the team towards the front of the grid."
Despite all the plaudits, McLaren will want improvement out of their Australian star as well in 2024.
While being competitive, Piastri was beaten by his teammate Lando Norris in the drivers' championship by 108 points, while also being outqualified in 15 of the 22 grands prix this year.
Norris was a star in 2023 with seven grand prix podiums, but Piastri was not afraid to battle his teammate on track.
A collision between the two during the Italian Grand Prix was one moment of friction in an otherwise entertaining year between the two.
Piastri was full of praise for Norris when asked about his relationship with the Brit on and off the track.
"Lando has been a great benchmark for me this year. We have been working really well together and the progress that we have made as a team, is there for all to see," he said.
"The goal for both of us has been to try and help drive the team back towards the front of the grid and hopefully we can take that forward into 2024."
McLaren took giant strides in the second half of 2023, securing fourth in the constructors' championship and at times taking it to runaway champions Red Bull.
The British outfit will consider anything less than challenging near the front in 2024 a major disappointment.
"The target for next year will be to build on everything that I've learnt in 2023 and come back in 2024 a better driver," Piastri said.
"Once the dust has settled on this season, there will be plenty to reflect on and learn from and hopefully take into next season.
"All I can take care of is ensuring that I keep that learning process moving forward and build on the foundations.
"A rookie season in F1 is brutal as there are so many new variables.
Loading..."The experience of dealing with those new variables for the first time this year should hopefully stand me in good stead in future seasons."
An off-season in F1 is barely three months, with pre-season testing in February before the first race in Bahrain on March 2.
Piastri told ABC Sport he plans on taking his mind off the job for a little while, before diving head-first into preparation for his second year.
"Rest and recuperation are really important so I'll take some time off, switch off from racing and have a bit of downtime to get the batteries recharged for next year," he said.
"I'll head back to Australia to chill out and see friends and family and then after a few weeks I'm sure the racing bug will start all over again and I will be counting down until testing.
"Training doesn't stop and I will need to keep things ticking over before it ramps up ahead of 2024."